Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Giants Take the Freebie

Starting pitcher:
M.C. O'Connor

Sometimes the other team hands the win back, and last night was one of those. Here's that 9th-inning sequence: strike out, single, line out, walk, hit by pitch, walk. Marco Scutaro, who scored the tying run in the 8th, got the bases-loaded free pass in the 9th for the walk-off win. The Giants were 0-10 with runners in scoring position, but managed a 3-2 win over the Red Sox nonetheless, mostly because Ryan Vogelsong pitched a hell of a game (Game Score 61). The team will certainly exercise his $6.5M option for next season. Brandon Belt rapped out three hits, including the one that led to Scutaro's run in the 8th (sac fly from Buster Posey). Roger Kieschnick had three hits as well, one that drove in Joaquin Arias (who had tripled) in the 5th with the Giants first run, and one that got the rally started in the 9th (he scored the game-winner). Without the Boston bullpen meltdown, those performances would likely have gone for naught, and we'd be scratching our heads again in bewilderment over the team's lousy play. Instead, we get a game that looks like the kind of game the Giants won routinely the last few seasons.

This team is really hard to watch. It's the same cast from before, but this time the show stinks. I've said it before and I'll say it again--I want to see lots more from the rookies and I want to see the innings-eaters take smaller bites. Rest, rest, rest for big guns Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner who will be counted on for a lot in 2014. (Alas, I don't know what to think about Tim Lincecum, but he ought to be in the same conversation.) Buster Posey could use some bench time as well. He was hitting .322/.397/.543 on June 30th, and is now hitting .303/.374/.481 and has two extra-base hits in August (both doubles). Sit the man down and get more reps for Hector Sanchez and whoever the hell else in the organization that can play catcher. Don't get me wrong, an .855 OPS is damn good, especially from a backstop. But the Giants need Buster much too much next year to wear him out playing every day in a wasted season.

Chad Gaudin was sent to the DL for carpal tunnel issues. I wonder if that will end his season, or at least keep him out of the starting rotation in September. With the rosters expanding, I hope guys like Mike Kickham and Eric Surkamp get a few starts apiece. One of those guys could be a regular next year. The website says Barry Zito will get the start tonight.

Wednesday's game was horrendous. The giants ineptitude this year is almost unsurpassed, including Posey. According to Marlin's announcer despite Sandoval having one of his poorer hitting years, he is sixth in the league of full time players for batting average with runners in scoring position.